Chipotle-Mango Pulled Pork

By carvalhohm

Ingredients

• 3 pounds boneless, skinless pork shoulder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 sweet onions (such as Vidalia), thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 chipotles in adobo, seeds removed, and chopped, plus 1 tablespoon sauce
• 2 mangoes, diced, or 2 cups frozen mango chunks, thawed
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• Cooked corn grits or polenta (optional)

Details

Servings 8
Adapted from familycircle.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Season pork with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Heat vegetable oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Brown all sides of pork, about 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside.

2. In bowl of slow cooker, stir tomato paste, brown sugar, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper into chicken broth. Add onions, garlic and chipotles. Place browned pork on top. Cover and cook on HIGH for 6 hours or LOW for 8 hours. With 30 minutes remaining, add mango; re-cover.

3. Stir in cilantro. Serve with corn grits or polenta, if desired.

_*Variation:*_

*Asian Barbecued Pork:*
Omit 1 onion, chipotles, mango, cilantro and the 1/2 teaspoon salt from sauce. In small bowl, combine 1/4 cup hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, a 2-inch piece of ginger (peeled and grated), 1 teaspoon sesame oil and 1 teaspoon Chinese 5-spice. Pour over browned pork in slow cooker. Slice and serve in beef ramen noodle soup, adding some of the cooking liquid to each bowl along with a poached egg and sliced scallions.

_*Variation:*_

*Spiced Indian Pork:*
Omit 1 cup broth, sugar and chipotles. Dice pork into 1-inch cubes and brown in oil. Add to slow cooker with remaining ingredients (except mango and cilantro) as well as 1 can (14.5 ounces) coconut milk, a 2-inch piece of ginger (peeled and grated), 1 teaspoon each cumin and turmeric, 1 tablespoon garam masala and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne. With 30 minutes remaining, add mango. Before serving, stir in cilantro. Serve over brown basmati rice.

_*Variation:*_

*Cuban Pork :*
Omit brown sugar, chipotles and mango. Add 1/2 cup fresh orange juice, 1/4 cup fresh lime juice, zest of 1 lime and 1/2 cup diced pickles. When finished, stir in cilantro. Slice and serve with sliced ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and yellow mustard inside a panini, or on soft Cuban or Italian bread.

_*Variation:*_

*Creamy Pork and Mushroom Sauce:*
Omit tomato paste, brown sugar, chipotles and mango. Add 1 pound sliced cremini mushrooms, 2 sprigs rosemary and 2 tablespoons cornstarch (mix latter with a bit of broth to a cream-like consistency before adding). After cooking, discard rosemary, shred pork and replace cilantro with parsley. Slowly stir in 1/3 cup heavy cream. Serve with rigatoni and shredded Parmesan.